Nigra Forum

"So what do you wanna do now?" Walker said as they exited the mansion. "I heard that you were a pretty good investigator so I'll put my faith in you, but don't go overboard."

Silas didn't say anything. Instead he lost himself in thought.

"If he really did take the head then I'm guessin' that he was sent to assassinate 'im ." Walker continued.

"Then we should head to the place where they want heads... Any ideas?"

"I guess you could say that..."

"So where we headed?"

"Nigro Forum"

...

Ice chowed down on some dry bread along with vegetable broth. It wasn't exactly tasty, as one would call it. But Ice always said "It's edible" and continued eating. Levia managed to gulp the food without complaints as well, almost as if she was used to it like Ice.

"Tell me about whatever happened with you and Infirmi... " Ice said as he ate.

"I was abducted and experimented on.... that's about it...."

"Do you wanna go back?"

"I'd prefer staying with you...."

A loud voice could be heard from below which sounded like shouts.

"Damn you Ice! I told you not to make your damn house on my terrace!!" A man yelled, climbing up the ladder.

"Whoops we gotta move" he said as the seeds he'd previously planted grew and lift his shack, carrying them across houses. One of the vines grabbed a hold of the man he continued yelling and cursing Ice as they drifted away.

"The plant placed them on an empty building, 2 storeys high. The building was much more organised than the shack - a shelf, cupboard and the kind.

" This is where I actually live" He said as he stepped out . The vine withered away and slowly turned to dust.

Levia stepped along with him. She was surprised but not shocked.

"My second ability is.." He said biting into his finger which began leaking blood "To create any element of control group - Wind, Plant, Fire, Earth, Water, Poison, Steel, Lightning, Dark and Light - out of my bodily fluids.". The blood turned into steel coins as they dropped to the ground. " And the best part is I can control them even after I've created them and also turn them back into the bodily fluids."

Levia stood there awestruck. Never before had she seen such a useful ability . But no ability was free of cons. "Doesn't it hurt?..." She asked in a low voice.

"I got used to it a long time ago. " He replied.

He emptied the bowl of broth. "In any case, I've got more people to kill." He said as he stood up. "My first kill was an easy kill..."

"Why did you kill him?" Levia asked.

Ice sighed "This government may look kind and generous and thoughtful at first but, on the inside..." His eyes glinted with anger and pain as he crushed a fruit in his palm "They're as rotten as it gets!"

Levia stood and watched the fruit get crushed. "So... What are you?"

"Me? I'm a bounty hunter...."

She tilted her head unable to understand his occupation. "In any case.... Where are we going next?"

"I need a job so.... we're headed to the Nigra Forum."

.......

"So what does it mean?" Silas asked chewing on a tangerine. "Nigra Forum...."

"In terms of Infirmi " Walker replied. "We'd call it the black market..."

Silas wasn't shocked to any extent. He knew that the place they were headed to had something illegal going on.

"And what're we looking for there?" He continued asking.

"Assassins, Hunters maybe requests... just don't buy anything there..."

"The thought never really crossed my mind"

The vehicle stopped short of a gate. From the outside it looked like a cemetery.

"Why doesn't the government just shut it down?" Silas asked.

"I wonder why.."

"You don't really seem to like the place do you?"

"Bad memories" Walker said pulling a cigarette from the pack. "You know you never really told me... what gate do you open?" He said as he searched for a lighter.

Silas placed his finger under the cigarette as he muttered the words "Aperta Porta". A flame the size of a coin appeared at the tips instantaneously and lit the cigarette in question.

Walker was taken aback for a second. "Flame control? Pretty lucky ain't cha?". Walker realised something " Wait a minute... you're the newbie from the war... what'd they call you again?"

"The flame magician... I think" Silas said as he gave a simple smile. "Should we go in?"

"Yeah..."

....

The market was like any other. bustling with people with cloaks and covered faces. Walker bad an annoyed look on his face while Silas didn't really bother looking around. Walker knew the place and that was enough. They made their way to a two stories building that looked like a bar. It wasn't as lively as the others but it was it silent either.

The bartender was a middle aged man with a dark brown beard. He was but a dwarf with the height of a 5-year old.

"How can i help you today gentlemen?" He asked.

"Cut the bullshit Terry..." Walker replied.

Terry chuckled softly. "Whad'dya want Walker? another shot with master?"

"Over my dead body... I'm here 'cause I need information."

"Can't really help you with that... I've been living in this dump since you left."

"Like hell you have... I just wanna know who killed Equus."

"Equus died?!"

"Don't play dumb" Walker said as he pointed towards The bartender's watch. "You still work for master dont'cha? He probably got the information before we did..."

Terry chuckled again. "Who's the kid?" He asked looking at Silas.

"He's an adventurer..."

"Never heard the CP takin' the help of adventurers"

"Desperate times call for desperate measures..."

Terry placed a glass of wine, mixed finely. "You remember this dont'cha? "

"How would I forget?" Walker replied as he gulped the entire glass. "Still the same taste..." He commented. "So will you talk or not?"

Terry glared at him for a while before saying - "Alright"